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September 10, 2010

Free Motion Quilt Along: Wiggles

(The drawing is now closed)
Welcome to the first quilting week of the Free Motion Quilt Along! First off, I am excited to tell you that C&T Publishing is providing a copy of Show Me How to Machine Quilt, by Kathy Sandbach, to one lucky blog reader. How perfect, thank you C&T! To be entered for the giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post. There must be an email address for me to contact so please include that if your profile does not allow people to access your email address.

I hope you are excited about quilting some wiggles! I decided to split up the quilting designs and quilt along instructions so the designs can serve as an easy reference for anyone, without a bunch of quilt along information confusing matters. So if you haven't already, please read the post on wiggle designs.

Now, we are going to be quilting wiggles in two of the skinny strips on the quilt. How about the middle two? Just roll your quilt up to one of the strips, and slide the roll under the arm of your sewing machine.

You get to choose whatever designs appeal to you. Choose according to your interest and skill level! Now, before you rush (wiggle?) off, I do think you should open up your quilt journal and sketch any of those wiggle designs that you liked. Then you will have them to inspire you for future projects. And take some time to think about other wiggle designs. Sketch those as well. Then choose four to six designs you would like to try. Not all of them will be appropriate for a one inch wide strip, so take that into account.

I must tell you that I am a ponderer. I can get stuck mulling over the silliest details. If you are also a ponderer, know that the designs you choose are not important. Practicing quilting is important. So if you find yourself getting stuck on deciding what to quilt, just quilt the designs I quilted, OK? Before starting, try a few wiggles on your practice pad to get in your groove (and to double check that the tension pixies haven't visited).

Here we go. I first did a basic serpentine wiggle for 1/3 of the strip.

Then I increased the frequency of the wave. This might be UVA. Got your sunscreen?

Then I decreased the frequency. Maybe a bit too much. It was looking like a pretty sickly wiggle so I just threw in a tiny leaf here and there. Force of habit.

On to the second strip. I tried the ribbon candy design. Took a little bit to get the feel for it but I really like this one!

Then I did the basic serpentine down to the bottom of the strip. At the bottom I turned around and did the mirror/DNA wiggle, until I reached the 1/3 point. The challenge with this design is to NOT stare at the needle. If you stare at the needle you will make all your turns too late and it will not be symmetrical (although, if you were really aiming to draw DNA you will have totally nailed it). You need to look ahead of the needle, where you're going (like driving!). If you are at the outermost part of the curve you should have your eyes on the point you want to intersect the first wiggle. If you are at the intersection you should be looking ahead to where you want the outermost part of the next bump to land. This is a general principle of free motion quilting so take this solemn vow: I will not stare at my needle.

Finally, I tried the ribbon effect. I like the way this looks - it is hard to mess this one up!

A few words about working with your quilt for the first time. Try and keep it from hanging off the edge of your table. Pile it on the table or in your lap so you're not battling the weight of the quilt while you move the quilt sandwich. Stop every now and then and make sure it's not starting to bind around the corner of your machine or table.

Also, I quilted my lines with the one inch strip oriented vertically in the machine but if you want to quilt from side to side, go ahead. Just roll up your quilt from the right side, slip it under the machine arm and start quilting on the left edge. As you work your way to the right you will be slowly unrolling the quilt as you go. This is just a matter of preference. Up and down or side to side, no one will be able to tell once your quilt is off the machine.

And finally, for some of you this quilt along is the right pace and for some it is painfully slow (I can tell, even though you are being very polite). So, hey, you don't have to wait for me! I would love nothing more than for you to have the confidence to disregard everything I say and just quilt what you want to quilt. That is what will really make you a better quilter: practice. So if you want to quilt more than what I tell you, or try designs before we get to them in the quilt along, you absolutely should. Don't wait around for me to bore you to tears.

So, go ahead, have fun; no stress, it's just quilting! Don't forget about the Flickr group for sharing successes or struggles.

I'm so excited about this series! My confidence level for free motion is eeking up and I'm going to be ready to try it again soon. Thanks for sharing yourself and your hard-earned knowledge. You rock!!

I think I like the candy ribbon wiggles the best. Of course, they also look the most challenging...at least for me. I'm still trying to get my tension correct. I actually had to INCREASE my tension, I was surprised, but it's giving me a better looking stitch on the underside, before it was a MESS! :)

I love the idea of a book that explains different aspects of FMQ, but I would really like it if a live person could come to my house and give me tips on what I am doing wrong. I'll keep dreaming and working on my stitches.

I think you are doing great with this FM quilt along...You have so thoroughly gone over ALOT of the IMPORTANT things that I tend to overlook. I haven't begun yet with this quilt along but already have learned quite a bit!! Thanks!

Thank you for holding the giveaway. I really like the explanations and way you show what you are doing. It make it look like it will be alright to make mistakes as we learn. In two other hands-on classes, there was no room for mistakes.

This quilt along is the best thing since sliced bread. And it is working! I used your tips and was able to complete a fabulous little quilt! I was having a horrible time with loose threads on the bottom, but no loner - I watch for those tension fairies and know just what to do! Thank you for making this possible! I have not attempted to do anything big yet, but I know by the end of this, I will have the confidence and skill to do so. Thank you as well for your sence of humor, I find myself chuckling as I read and that is great!-Carolyn

The slower the better. It will take lots of practice before I feel comfortable with fmq. I've always stitched 1/4" away from the seam, following the block design so this is something way new. I would love a chance to win the book you are offering!

Your speed is our speed........and slow is good for me right now, as I'm piecing on the machine that I want to quilt with. I don't like changing it back and forth, tension, stitch length, feed dogs.......so I'm hoping to sneak in a little quilting now and then but mainly I'll be piecing for right now.

That's the beauty of this quiltalong.....I can join in when it's convenient for me and get caught up at any point !

I've been machine quilting for several years, but I welcome any help I can get! I use the walking foot alot, and when I free motion it's usually a meander, so I hope you will inspire me to do more designs. And I would love to have Kathy's book, I remember seeing her on Simply Quilts. I will be checking out your archives, and look forward to your coming posts.

the quilt along is just wonderful and thanks so much for doing this!! i'm anxious to get good very quickly so i won't be so intimidated to finish my grandbaby's quilt. it's been pinned for a week--just trying to get brave!!

I've been practicing for days on the wiggles ~ and various other kinds of shapes ~ so frustrating, but getting better. Just doing it on scraps of fabric instead of a finished quilt. Thanks so much for your tutorial, tho I do wish we could do this in person! Quilt on!

I didn't make the top you suggested. I had a Tumbler top that I had made that was begging to be quilted. So, I am using it. I added my pictures to the Flickr pool - but my thread is hiding too well on this! ha ha.

I posted on the other thread you had on wiggling. Well, I'll post here too! I've got to get that quilt sandwich made and get the threads cleaned out of the machine so I can get started and catch up with you all. Would love to win the book - more visuals! Hugs, Trish newlapp@pa.net

Thank you to both you and C&T for this wonderful giveaway!! I think that the Ribbon Candy Wiggles are going to be perfect on the sashing of a Christmas Quilt I am working on - Thank you for the idea/tutorial/quilt-along!!

I just found your blog for the first time tonight. The last 2 quilts I machine quilted were using my walking foot and straight line quilting. I'm rather excited to give wiggles a go, I have a baby quilt pin-basted and just waiting. Thanks for the chance to win a book and this quilt-along. Karen

what are we supposed to do with all those thread ends? if you posted about it, i've managed to miss it and i've just quilted my littlest girlie girl's (granddaughter) quilt and it's brimming with threads i'm leery about clipping!! thanks for giving me the nerve to try this on olivia's quilt--i'm not super happy with my results but i'm ok and happy i've tried it out and actually done a quilt.

cool! i love the little leaf you put in the 'sickly' wiggle. and i LOVE your blog header photo. so simple yet so pretty. cool (felt?) letters.

im still learning fms with my bernina 440qe - it has the optical lens that senses the motion of the fabric which really makes fms pretty easy. i like your suggestion here of sketching/journaling ideas before hand, and then PRACTICING.

I just stumbled on your site...and it's just what I needed. I have been practicing my free-motion quilting, but struggle. I hope I can do as well as everyone else out there does! I love making the tops, but I have 4 now that I am scared to quilt.... LOL!

I loved reading about FMQ in your blog! I have been a hand quilter, but would love your book. I'm sure it would help me to learn FMQ, a skill I have decided it is time to learn! Thanks for the giveaway.ruthquilter@neo.rr.com